Alstroemeria `Redcoat`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria named `Redcoat` is characterized by large rose-red blossoms which have numerous longitudinal maroon/brown streaks on its inner circle of tepals; the top two tepals of this inner group of three also have white and yellow on their lower portions. The individual florets are produced in large numbers on short peduncles. The plant is also distinguished by its short (approximately 55 cm. when grown in full sun), but strong, stems and its upright and vigorous growth habit. There is a continuous production of flowers on its umbel arrangement of branches during each of its blooming seasons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new and distinct cultivar of the botanical genus Alstroemeria(Lily-of-the-Incas, Inca Lily, or Peruvian Lily) is a product of mybreeding program at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn. Theprimary objective of my breeding program was the creation of newAlstroemeria cultivars for pot production and garden cultivation. ThisAlstroemeria plant originated as a seedling number A126 and was selectedfrom a group of unnamed and unpatended plants that were gamma-irradiatedas seeds.

This plant was selected for propagation and is distinguishable fromother Alstroemeria varieties because of its distinctive rose/red flowercoloration and large numbers of florets per inflorescence combined withstrong, upright flower stems and a short growth habit. Asexualpropagation of this new plant by root division was carried on under mydirection at the University of Connecticut; successive generations ofthis plant have demonstrated that the distinctive characteristics of theparent hybrid hold true from generation to generation and appear to befirmly fixed. Micropropagation and traditional asexual propagation byrhizome division of this new cultivar is now being carried on at theUniversity of Connecticut.

This cultivar has been observed in the greenhouse and in the field forseveral years but has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment suchas light intensity, temperature, nutrition and daylength.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new cultivar of Alstroemeria plant is illustrated by theaccompanying photographic drawing in full color showing an umbel of theplant with buds and flowers in different stages of opening. The colorrenditions are believed to be as close to the specified colors as ispossible to obtain by conventional photographic procedures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of my new Alstroemeria plantwith color designations according to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society of London, England. Colors were confirmedwith CIELAB coordinates that were measured with a Minolta CR-200b ColorMeter (Minolta, Ramsey, N.J.). The following observations, measurements,and comparisons described plants grown in Storrs, Conn. under fieldconditions in full sun.

THE PLANT

Origin: Seedling.

Parentage: This plant resulted as a selection from a group of plantsthat were gamma irradiated as seeds.

Classification:

Botanic.--Alstroemeria hybrid L.

Commercial.--Alstroemeria; Lily-of-the-Incas; Inca Lily; Peruvian Lily.

Form: Herbaceous plant arising from an underground rhizome and havingshort, stout flowering stalks wtih flower-bearing branches of simpleumbel form at its top.

Height: Approximately 55-59 cm.

Growth: Upright, strong and vigorous.

Root stock: Tuberous.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Many.

Number of leaves.--Average of 48 per vegetative stem. Average of 27 perinflorescence.

Size of leaf.--Length: 10 cm. Diameter at widest point: 3.4 cm.

Leaf shape.--Simple, linear, resupinate leaves with parallel venationthat are arranged alternately; the shape of the leaves is elliptic withextended bases and broadly acuminate apices; leaf margins are entire.

Texture.--Glabrous leaf surfaces.

Color.--Dark green on both upper and under sides.

Rhizomes:

Color.--White.

THE BUD

Form: Pear shaped becoming long and more pointed just before opening.

Size:

Diameter.--Approximately 1 cm. as the bud begins to form externalpigments.

Length.--Approximately 2 cm. as the bud begins to form externalpigments.

Calyx: The flower bud of this plant has no separate calyx and corolla;the six tepals of the flower are a perianth and divide simultaneously.

Opening rate: Normal.

Peduncle:

Length.--Approximately 5.3 cm. to primary floret.

Color.--Green turning reddish as it reaches anthesis.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Continuous and profuse after flower initiation.

Flower size: Large.

Diameter.--Approximately 4.5-5 cm.

Depth.--Approximately 5.0 cm.

Number of florets/inflorescence: Average 13.

Borne: Singly.

Shape: Flowers are zygomorphic, protandrous, and epigynous with inferiorovaries; flowers arise in a terminal bracted umbel of cymes. Matureblooms are funnel-shaped with tepal tips curling outward.

Inflorescence length: 55-67 cm.

Petalage:

Number of petals.--Six tepals.

Arrangement.--Two concentric circles of three tepals each.

Form.--The 3 outer tepals are spatulate with emarginate to mucronateapices that pinch together. The extreme 1-2 mm tip is greenish. The 3inner tepals are also spatulate but are more narrow than the 3 outertepals and have apiculate apices.

Texture.--Leathery.

Appearance.--Shiny.

Color of Petals.--Outer tepals -- Central regions are rose-red 53B-Cwith a gradation of color to 53D-54A at the margins and base. There areoccasional, small dark rose-red 53A streaks at the edge of the tepals.The reverse side is gradations of 53C-D. Inner tepals -- A Rose-red53C-D color base with numberous well-defined longitudinal streaks of185A throughout. The two upper tepals of the central ring of 3 areyellow 14B with a small region of white 155D at the top. The reverseside is gradations of 53C-D.

Peduncle:

Length.--5.3 cm.

Color.--Light green.

Persistence: The tepals fall off at senescence.

Lasting quality:

On plant.--Approximately 20-28 days.

As a cut flower.--Approximately 10-14 days.

Main stem or stalk:

Length.--55-67 cm.

Character.--Strong and upright.

Number of leaves.--Average of 27 per inflorescence.

Size of leaf.--Length: 10 cm. Diameter at widest point: 3.2 cm.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Number.--Six.

Arrangement.--One opposite each petal.

Anthers:

Size.--5-8 mm.

Color.--Brownish gray.

Pollen:

Color.--Gray.

Filaments:

Length.--Approximately 25-35 mm.

Color.--Pinkish white.

Pistils:

Number.--One.

Length.--Approximately 35-40 mm.

Color.--Rose pink toward the stigma to white near the ovary.

Stigma:

Color.--Rose pink.

THE FRUIT

Fertility: Fertile tetraploid (2n=4×=32).

Shape: Capsular.

Color at maturity: Light green with a reddish purple tinge.

This cultivar of Alstroemeria is characterized by the distinctivecoloration and short peduncles of its flowers which do not closelyresemble that of any other Alstroemeria plant previously known to me.The large blossoms of this cultivar are rose-red with numerouslongitudinal maroon/brown streaks on its inner circle of tepals; the toptwo tepals of this inner group of three also have white and yellow ontheir lower portions. The individual florets are produced in largenumbers on short peduncles. The plant is also distinguished its short(approximately 55 cm. when grown in full sun), but strong, stems and itsupright and vigorous growth habit. There is a continuous production oflong-lasting flowers on its umbel arrangement of branches during each ofits blooming seasons.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinctive Alstroemeria plant substantially as shown and described, distinguished by its unique flower color, short growth habit, strong and numerous flowering stems, and numerous florets per inflorescence. 